Google said it will put $50 million toward training programs aimed at preparing more than 300,000 workers for skilled trades jobs tied to infrastructure, construction and data center operations.

The funding, announced through Google.org, is designed to support labor unions and trade groups that train workers for occupations such as electricians, welders, plumbers, pipefitters and sheet metal workers. Google said the effort is meant to help address a shortage of skilled labor in roles that are essential to building and maintaining the systems that power modern infrastructure.

The company said the money will support 14 labor unions and four trade and contractor associations across more than 20 states. Those groups are expected to use the funding to modernize training, expand apprenticeship pathways and add technology tools to instruction. Google said the programs will also help trainees earn the credentials needed to work in high-demand jobs.

According to Google, the initiative is intended to strengthen the workforce behind infrastructure that includes cooling systems, electrical networks and fiber infrastructure. The company said those fields offer high-wage careers and are important to local economies.

Among the organizations receiving support is TradesFutures, which works with North America’s Building Trades Unions and industry partners. Google said that group will focus on helping construction pre-apprentices move into registered apprenticeship programs and on using AI tools to improve job placement for graduates.

Google also pointed to continued support for the electrical training ALLIANCE, a partnership between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Electrical Contractors Association. The organization will use the funding to help local training programs and to launch a mobile training center pilot aimed at high-demand infrastructure regions.

Other recipients include the United Association’s International Training Fund, which works with the Mechanical Contractors Association of America, and the International Training Institute for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Industry, backed by SMART Workers and SMACNA. Google said the first will create a five-year plan to scale training in plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. The second will update coursework, improve apprentice support and add AI tools to address shortages in sheet metal trades.

The company framed the investment as part of a broader effort to support American workers and expand training for careers that do not require a traditional four-year degree. Google said there are hundreds of thousands of open skilled trades positions in the United States.

Maggie Johnson, Google’s global head of Google.org, said the company sees the initiative as part of a larger public-private effort that brings together industry, civil society and government. She said no single organization can solve the labor shortage alone.

Google said the new commitment builds on previous skilling efforts. Since 2022, the company says it has provided more than $1 billion globally for training and education initiatives and helped more than 100 million people build digital and AI skills. The company described the new skilled trades funding as part of its broader AI Opportunity Fund.

The announcement comes as major technology firms continue to invest in data center and infrastructure expansion, increasing demand for construction and maintenance workers. Google said its latest move is aimed at helping fill those roles while creating long-term career paths for workers across the country.